Matt Pangrac’s Rod Choices for Finesse Rigs

When it comes to finesse rigs, spinning rods are usually required to get the job done. However, many spinning rods on the market either don’t have enough backbone to land big fish or are too stiff or heavy. Bassmaster Opens pro and Bass Talk Live host Matt Pangrac has two different rods he reaches for when throwing finesse rigs, and it all depends on whether he is fishing open water or heavier cover when deciding which one to choose. See a short video on his favorite finesse fishing setup here.

When fishing around vertical and horizontal structure such as dock posts, cross braces, or brush piles, he reaches for a 7-foot 4-inch medium heavy power Denali Lithium Pro spinning rod. He prefers this rod during heavy cover situations because it has enough backbone to pull the fish out of the heavy cover while still having enough sensitivity to feel the most subtle bites. The longer length also allows for longer casts when fishing deep heavy structure and better handling when dealing with bigger fish by the boat. The moderate fast action tip on this rod allows for the rod to load up well when setting the hook and prevents the angler from pulling the hook out of the fish’s mouth when they fight.

When fishing more open water finesse situations like when he is using his forward-facing sonar, Pangrac reaches for a 7-foot medium power Denali Android drop shot spinning rod paired with a Denali Fission Pro 2000 spinning reel. This rod has a fast tip which allows for working the bait effectively, and the shorter length makes it easier for making short accurate pitches which is crucial when trying to hit the fish directly on the head when locating them with forward-facing sonar. Many rods on the market will be super strong in backbone, but they often sacrifice sensitivity and will often be too stiff. The Android Series rods have the perfect balance of sensitivity and backbone paired with the perfect amount of forgiveness in the rod tip allowing for small movements in the lure and for the rod to load up well before setting the hook. Small movements in the lure are crucial when finesse fishing or “dinking and dunking” as Pangrac likes to call it! Too stiff of a rod tip will often result in working the lure too fast giving it little action whatsoever, but with a soft tip, an angler can twitch finesse baits like drop shots, neko rigs, and jig head/minnow combinations effectively giving it the action that it needs to entice the fish to bite. Just as if twitching a lure on a semi-slack line allows for more action, it’s the same concept when twitching a lure with a softer rod tip.

Try these two finesse setups next time you’re out on the water, available on our website at denalifishing.com or at a local Denali retailer near you!